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Saturday, December 10, 2011

Holiday Cooking: Christmas Meatballs

No Christmas table is complete without meatballs. And for me, homemade all the way. Many people don't bother though - there are SO many ready-made at the store, often cheaper than to buy just ground meat. (Isn't that scary?)

You can pan-fry these, but if you're making many, it's much easier to ust put them on a rimmed baking sheet and bake them instead. Much easier.

I didn't measure my spices, just add quite a bit of the white pepper, and just a dash of everything else. You can fry (sorry, for this you'll have to) one to try out the seasoning, but I never bother. And they're always good.

You can serve these with anything - potatoes and gravy, macaroni and ketchup, as part of a large smorgasbord, with any vegs, the possibilities are endless.

Mix everything to an even batter, and form small, round balls. Put in a large roasting pan, and bake for about 15 minutes at 175°C. (I'm using a convection oven, if you're not, add a few minutes.) Shake the pan a few times to ensure an even surface on your meatballs.

Anne, I've been "Swedish" for a few years during Christmas now and served meatballs alongside the more traditional roast. My nephews love them, and so does our daughter (and this year our little big boy). I use a slightly different mix of spices - and like you, I prefer them baked in the oven - they somehow look prettier, and it's less hassle to make.